Chapter 3: The Two Palaces

Feng Jing left the palace gate, and Zhao Xu let out a slight sigh, feeling a weight lifted from his heart.

Feng Jing's loyalty had already been proven.

In the previous life, he would rather be demoted to Guangnan than reveal a single word of what Zhao Xu had said in private.

Zhao Xu was only worried that he might take his instructions lightly or neglect them.

Now that Feng Jing has expressed his stance, given his character, he will naturally take this matter seriously.

"Now, everything is ready, only the east wind is missing..." Zhao Xu murmured to himself, looking in the direction of the Kunning Palace.

Kunning Palace is the central palace, where the Empress resides!

The memories of the previous life flashed through his mind.

Behind the curtains, the Grand Dowager (Empress Dowager Gao) and the Empress (Empress Xiang) stood like statues, silent but sobbing.

The ailing Emperor, lying on the imperial bed, no longer had the former majesty, and could only look at Zhao Xu with his eyes.

The young Zhao Xu, at a loss, looked at his father.

Outside the curtains, the voices of the ministers rose in unison.

"Last winter, the Three Ministries jointly received the imperial edict: the Prince of Yan'an will come of age this spring... We are alarmed and request that the Crown Prince be established early to secure the realm!"

The ministers presented their petition three times.

But inside the curtains, apart from the sounds of weeping, no one spoke.

Everyone pretended not to see the Emperor's nod.

The Emperor is the Son of Heaven!

At that time, no one paid attention to Zhao Xu.

No one would waste precious energy on a young prince who was at a loss amidst the power struggle.

Just a child.

Knowing nothing, understanding nothing.

No need to worry!

But they did not realize that at that time, the seemingly clueless Zhao Xu, who appeared to know nothing, was already aware.

He remembered everything that happened that day, etched in his heart and bones.

Every night, lying on the imperial bed in the Funing Palace, he would recall everything that happened that day.

He remembered every word spoken and every action taken by everyone.

He also remembered how the silence behind the curtains was broken.

"Please allow the Empress Dowager to co-rule until the Emperor recovers!"

The speaker was Wang Gui!

At the time, he was the Left Chancellor and Deputy Minister of the Menxia Province, known as the Left Chancellor!

That day was the 29th day of the second month of the Yuanyou era, the year of Gui Si!

The location was the inner chamber of the Funing Palace's eastern pavilion!

...

Kunning Palace.

The residence of the Empress of the Song Dynasty, located behind the Funing Palace, known as the central palace.

According to ancient rites, the walls were coated with pepper, hence it was called the Pepper Room.

At this moment, the Empress Xiang, the owner of the Kunning Palace, was kneeling before the statue of the Medicine Buddha, reciting the sutras.

Empress Xiang, though not yet forty, already showed signs of aging, her face full of worry.

She could not help but be worried.

Empress Xiang had been married to the royal family for nineteen years, and though she had given birth to children for the Emperor, they all died young.

Now, even the Emperor was about to leave her.

The weight of fate was like a thousand-pound burden, pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe.

But she had no way out!

Apart from praying to the gods and Buddhas, there seemed to be no other solution!

After finishing a scroll of the sutra, Empress Xiang put it down.

The eunuch Yan Shouqin, who had been standing behind her, finally stepped forward and called softly, "Your Majesty!"

Empress Xiang did not turn around. She looked at the statue of the Medicine Buddha in the niche and asked, "What is it?"

"Attendant Feng Jing just went to the Zishan Hall..."

"Oh?" Empress Xiang bowed to the Medicine Buddha and apologized, then got up and walked towards the inner chamber of the Kunning Palace.

As she walked, she asked, "Aren't the lecturers of the Zishan Hall all at the examination hall?"

"Why did Feng Jing go to the Zishan Hall?"

"I heard that Feng Jing went to the Zishan Hall to fetch writing materials and sutras on the order of the Prince of Yan'an!"

Empress Xiang stopped and turned to look at Song Yongchen: "What does the Prince of Yan'an need writing materials and sutras for?"

"I don't know!" Yan Shouqin lowered his head, not daring to look at Empress Xiang.

Empress Xiang pondered for a moment, hesitated, and then asked, "Does the Baoci Palace know about this?"

After a moment's thought, Empress Xiang answered her own question: "If I know, how can the Baoci Palace not know?"

The Baoci Palace, where the Empress Dowager resides, is west of the Funing Palace, closer to the inner court and more likely to hear news.

Since she knew, the Baoci Palace must also know.

Thus, Empress Xiang no longer hesitated and instructed Yan Shouqin, "I am going to the Qingning Palace, go and make the arrangements!"

...

As Empress Xiang had expected.

Empress Dowager Gao, in the Baoci Palace, also learned of Feng Jing's actions from the eunuch Liang Weijian.

"Sixth Brother is indeed a filial son!" Empress Dowager Gao said, gently stroking the cat in her arms.

Liang Weijian bowed deeply, not daring to respond.

He understood the meaning behind Empress Dowager Gao's words.

How old is the Prince of Yan'an?

A child, even if he truly has filial piety, would he think of copying sutras for the Emperor's recovery?

Even if he could think of it, how could he put it into action?

Someone must have taught him.

Liang Weijian knew that if he could think of this, the Empress Dowager could not have missed it.

Empress Dowager Gao continued to stroke the cat's soft fur and mentioned another matter: "The Emperor once said that when Sixth Brother comes of age, he would appoint Sima Guang and Lu Gongzhu as his tutors..."

"Is this true?" Empress Dowager Gao looked at Liang Weijian.

Liang Weijian remained silent.

But silence was an answer.

"There are already two lecturers in the Zishan Hall..." Empress Dowager Gao said slowly. "Find a way to transfer those two lecturers to local prefectures!"

"The Emperor sometimes acts hesitantly and cautiously!"

"Having decided to appoint old ministers like Sima Guang and Lu Gongzhu to protect the Prince, how can he allow Wang Anshi's heretical ideas to continue to influence the Prince?"

The Empress Dowager, who lived in the palace, did not understand economic matters.

She did not understand why her son insisted on reform.

In the palace, she only heard the complaints, dissatisfaction, and grievances of the noble ministers, the imperial relatives, and the princesses.

Especially when Wang Anshi, in one stroke, removed the distant relatives of the imperial family from the imperial lineage.

The descendants of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong who came to her to complain were not just a few.

The Market Regulation Law caused chaos in Bianjing.

Eunuchs and imperial relatives complained to her one after another.

About competing with the people for profit, and excessive exploitation!

Or that the laws of Emperor Wu of Han were no better than this!

Therefore, Empress Dowager Gao had been trying to persuade her son.

However, although the current Emperor was filial, he would not listen to her advice on this matter.

Liang Weijian listened quietly to Empress Dowager Gao's words, still silent, but he remembered the matter in his heart.

Empress Dowager Gao then put down the cat in her arms.

"Let's go see the Emperor!" Empress Dowager Gao said, her voice tinged with melancholy.

No matter what, he is her son.

Born after ten months of pregnancy, her flesh and blood.

Now, as the Emperor's condition worsened and he grew thinner, Empress Dowager Gao's heart was naturally very pained.

Liang Weijian then replied, "Your Majesty, the ministers of the Two Councils have just entered the palace and are now in the Funing Palace to inquire about the Emperor's health..."

Empress Dowager Gao hesitated for a moment and then said, "Since that is the case, I will wait until the ministers leave before going to see the Emperor!"

Empress Dowager Gao was a person who respected the system.

This was related to her life experiences.

She was born into a family of generals, with her great-grandfather Gao Qiong and grandfather Gao Jixun both being famous generals.

Her father, Gao Zunfu, though not as famous as his ancestors, her mother came from another famous family of Song generals, the Zhen Ding Cao family.

Another daughter of the Cao family later married into the royal family and became the Empress of Emperor Renzong, known as Empress Cisheng Guangxian.

Empress Cisheng Guangxian, who had no children, brought Empress Dowager Gao to the palace to raise her, teaching and guiding her, showing her great favor.

Empress Cisheng Guangxian's respect for the system deeply influenced Empress Dowager Gao.

Therefore, although Empress Dowager Gao did not like the so-called new laws her son had implemented,

she only advised and never truly interfered.

The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, and the affairs of the realm are his to manage.

From another perspective, Empress Dowager Gao's dissatisfaction with the new laws also stemmed from this.

The ancestral system, the politics of the Jia You era, were perfect.

How could they be casually destroyed?

Moreover, Empress Dowager Gao always remembered that her husband's smooth ascension to the throne was due to the persistence of the ministers of the Jia You era.

Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, Sima Guang, Lu Gongzhu, Li Chun...

They were all loyal ministers!

But the Emperor believed in Wang Anshi's heretical ideas and abandoned these people.

Wasn't this foolish?

Wasn't this self-destructive?

Now, the Emperor is gravely ill, and the medicine is ineffective.

The loyal ministers are far away, and the court is full of treacherous officials!

If anything happens, how will the state and the ancestral temple be protected?

Thinking about this, Empress Dowager Gao's face inevitably showed worry.

Liang Weijian, seeing Empress Dowager Gao's expression, raised his head without showing any emotion and said softly, "Your Majesty, there is another matter, I don't know if I should say it..."

"Say it!" Empress Dowager Gao sighed.

"I heard that some time ago, the Empress ordered people to set up a prayer at the Daxiangguo Temple, and the prayer text said: 'The Prince of Yan'an prays for the Emperor's recovery.' This matter is now known by many people!"

Empress Dowager Gao's face turned pale, and her body trembled slightly.

After a long time, she said, "Why would the Empress do this!"

Liang Weijian did not dare to respond, only bowing deeply.

Empress Dowager Gao sighed deeply and said to herself, "Would I harm my own grandson?"

The Empress ordered people to set up a prayer, especially in the prayer text, using the name of the Prince of Yan'an to pray.

This was telling the world: the Emperor has a son!

And he has grown up!

The underlying message was: be more careful!

Who was this subtly pointing to?

Those with ulterior motives would naturally make the connection.

The legend of the axe and the candle, known throughout the country.

The story of the Jin Kui Alliance, vividly remembered.

"Have the ministers of the Two Councils said anything about this?" Empress Dowager Gao thought for a moment and then asked Liang Weijian.

Liang Weijian bowed his head and replied, "I have not heard anything about this matter!"

Empress Dowager Gao's expression darkened.

Sometimes, the lack of discussion is the greatest discussion!

Because they have gone underground.

Empress Dowager Gao remembered that since the Emperor's illness, the ministers of the Two Councils almost entered the palace every morning and evening to inquire about his health.

After inquiring, they would gather in the capital's Grand Hall or the Military Council for discussions.

During these discussions, the ministers often ordered the hall to be locked, allowing only the Secretaries of the Chancellery to record.

The records of these discussions could only be read by the Secretaries of the Chancellery.

Liang Weijian carefully observed Empress Dowager Gao's expression and cautiously reported, "However, I heard that the mother of the Right Chancellor Cai Gong, Lady Ming, was ordered by the Empress to enter the palace to meet her!"

"Cai Chizheng's mother? Lady Ming?" Empress Dowager Gao immediately became alert: "Why did she enter the palace? Why did the Empress summon her?"

Liang Weijian shook his head: "I do not know!"

Empress Dowager Gao's vigilance immediately increased.

Liang Weijian was the head of the Inner Palace Eunuchs and the supervisor of the Baoci Palace, known for his well-informed nature.

Moreover, Liang Weijian was closely associated with high-ranking eunuchs like Chen Yan and Zhang Shiliang.

If even Liang Weijian did not know what Lady Ming and the Empress discussed,

this could only mean that the matter they discussed was extremely sensitive, probably private, and conducted in secret, away from others.

Considering that the Empress ordered people to go to the Daxiangguo Temple to pray, but used the name of the Prince of Yan'an in the prayer text, and this matter is now widely known,

Empress Dowager Gao could not help but suspect that this was the result of a discussion between Cai Que and the Empress!

This was a warning!

Empress Dowager Gao took a deep breath.

She also remembered Liang Weijian's report about Feng Jing going to the Zishan Hall to fetch writing materials, claiming that "the Prince of Yan'an wants to copy sutras for the Emperor's recovery."

How old is the Prince of Yan'an?

Copying sutras?

Does he recognize all the characters in the sutras? Even if he does, can he write them? Can he write them well?

So, who taught him?

Why teach him this?

What is the purpose?

A phrase immediately came to Empress Dowager Gao's mind: "Xiang Zhuang's sword dance was aimed at Peigong!"

Thus, she could no longer sit still and instructed Liang Weijian, "Issue the order to move to the Qingning Palace!"

"I want to see what kind of filial son my Zhao family has!"

Although Empress Dowager Gao was a woman and had grown up in the palace, she had never experienced the complexity of human hearts.

But her determination had been evident from a young age!

When Emperor Yingzong was alive, there was not a single concubine in the entire palace!

Her aunt, Empress Cisheng Guangxian, once scolded her, urging her to select concubines for Emperor Yingzong.

Empress Dowager Gao directly silenced Empress Cisheng Guangxian with a single sentence.

"Your Majesty, I married 'Thirteen Tuanlian,' not the Emperor!"

Over the years in the palace, Empress Dowager Gao never put herself in a passive or disadvantageous position.

She always took the initiative.

...

Empress Xiang's entourage left the Kunning Palace, passed through the Chongzheng Hall, and headed to the Qingning Palace via the Donghua Gate.

But just as they left the side door of the Chongzheng Hall, they heard the sound of eunuchs announcing and clearing the streets.

"The Empress Dowager is on her way, all ministers must make way, all officials must welcome her!"

Empress Xiang was initially taken aback, then quickly led her entourage to the side of the road, bowing to wait for the Empress Dowager's entourage.

Shortly, a procession appeared, with yellow silk umbrellas, guards with weapons, and eunuchs with fans, moving in a grand procession.

As they approached, Empress Xiang stepped forward and bowed, "Your Majesty, I wish you well!"

Empress Dowager Gao, still holding the cat, looked at the standing Empress Xiang, deliberately waiting for a moment before smiling and saying, "I am well!"

Then she asked, "Is the Empress going to the Qingning Palace?"

Empress Xiang bowed again, "Your Majesty, indeed I am!"

Empress Dowager Gao nodded and said, "With the Emperor ill, the affairs of the palace are a burden on you!"

"I dare not!" Empress Xiang lowered her head and replied, "This is my duty!"

Empress Dowager Gao smiled at Empress Xiang and said, "What a coincidence, I also want to go to the Qingning Palace to visit Sixth Brother! The Empress should come with me!"

"I will follow your command, Your Majesty!" Empress Xiang bowed again.

...

Note: In the Tang and Song dynasties, the term "husband and wife" refers to the in-laws.

"Waiting to greet the in-laws in the morning"!

"Your Majesty" is generally used to refer to the Empress Dowager or the Grand Empress Dowager, while the Empress is called "Holy One," a tradition from the Tang dynasty.

Note 2: Regarding Emperor Shenzong's illness and the establishment of the heir, there are various accounts. The official history of Emperor Shenzong was revised three times, and its original form has been